Wheelbarrow dump ramp

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a wheelbarrow dump ramp. It provides a novel apparatus that can be removably attached to the side of a dumpster and may include a ramp for wheeling the wheelbarrow up to the level of the dumpster opening. The present invention further provides a recessed tire drop near the top of the ramp such that the front wheel of the wheelbarrow drops partially through the tire drop and movement of the wheelbarrow forward into the dumpster, or backward down the ramp, is resisted. The wheelbarrow can then be tilted forward and the contents dumped into the dumpster. The present invention may further provide one or more stop members that keep the wheelbarrow from being over-tipped and falling into the dumpster.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This patent application claims priority back to ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/315,174, filed Aug. 28, 2001. Applicant'sinvention relates to a device for a wheelbarrow dump ramp. Moreparticularly it relates to an apparatus that allows the user to wheel astandard, single-front wheel wheelbarrow up an incline ramp so that thewheelbarrow's contents may be deposited in a dumpster.

[0003] 2. Background Information

[0004] Conventional wheelbarrows exist in many forms and designs and areused to manually transport all sorts of materials and debris. Often, itis desirable to deposit the transported debris into a large dumpster fordisposal. The difficulty lies in that such dumpsters are made to holdlarge amounts of materials and are, therefore, large containers.Generally, the openings for such dumpsters are on the top surface, or ata level well above the area where a wheelbarrow's contents are depositedupon tilting the wheelbarrow. This necessitates that the contents of thewheelbarrow be removed from the wheelbarrow to be placed into thedumpster, the wheelbarrow be lifted to a height adequate to allow thecontents to be dumped from the wheelbarrow into the dumpster, or anothermeans be created to move the contents from the wheelbarrow to thedumpster.

[0005] While this can create a difficulty for users who mustoccasionally dump the contents from wheelbarrows into dumpsters, thereare many situations where users are required to repeatedly make suchdumps. For example, construction sites regularly have dumpsters on siteand personnel must regularly transport debris from the working area tothe dumpster. Another instance of regular dumping is horse and farmapplications. Because stalls and pens must be cleaned on a regular basisand the waste material disposed of on a regular basis, dumping from awheelbarrow to a dumpster can be a necessity. In fact, some state andlocal ordinances require regular dumping of waste material intoappropriate dumpster receptacles.

[0006] In such instances that require consistent and repeated dumpingfrom a wheelbarrow to a dumpster, getting the debris from thewheelbarrow to the dumpster can be a problem. As discussed above, usersgenerally have two choices, being: removing the material from thewheelbarrow and moving it to the dumpster such as by use of a shovel, ora user must raise the wheelbarrow to the level of dumpster opening. Bothof these options can be extremely time consuming and, if the wheelbarrowis lifted manually, then the weight of the dumpster and debris can bethe cause of injuries to the users.

[0007] Thus, there is a need for a device to make the dumping of debrisfrom a wheelbarrow into a large dumpster easier, less time consuming,and less likely to cause injury to the user. Additionally, it would beadvantageous for such an apparatus to be moveable from one dumpster toanother, for the apparatus to facilitate the dumping of debris from thewheelbarrow by providing a means that makes tipping the wheelbarroweasier, and providing a means to keep the wheelbarrow under the controlof the user such that the wheelbarrow itself is not tipped into thedumpster.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a wheelbarrow dump ramp. It provides anovel apparatus that can be removably attached to the side of a dumpsterand may include a ramp for wheeling the wheelbarrow up to the level ofthe dumpster opening. The present invention further provides a recessedtire drop near the top of the ramp such that the front wheel of thewheelbarrow drops partially through the tire drop and movement of thewheelbarrow forward into the dumpster, or backward down the ramp, isresisted. The wheelbarrow can then be tilted forward and the contentsdumped into the dumpster. The present invention may further provide oneor more stop members that keep the wheelbarrow from being over-tippedand falling into the dumpster.

[0009] It is an objective of the present invention to provide:

[0010] a. a ramp apparatus for wheeling a wheelbarrow up to the level ofthe opening of a dumpster;

[0011] b. an apparatus that is removably attachable to a variety ofdumpsters;

[0012] c. a fixed or removable ramp;

[0013] d. a means for stopping forward progress of the front tire of thewheelbarrow at a specified point;

[0014] e. a solid base upon which the wheelbarrow lip can be rested fortilting the wheelbarrow forward and dumping the contents;

[0015] f. means for stopping the wheelbarrow from tilting too farforward and falling into the dumpster; and

[0016] g. an apparatus that is easy to use, saves time, and reducesinjury to users.

[0017] In order to solve the difficulties presented in attempting toobtain these features, a dump ramp apparatus has been developed whichprovides for all of the above. Specifically, the present inventionprovides for a device that includes a ramp, tire drop, dump plate, andstop members. The present invention is removably attached to thedumpster so that the dump ramp can be removed from the dumpster fordumping into multiple receptacles, or for when the dumpsters are to bemoved or emptied.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1. is a perspective view of the present invention with theramp removed.

[0019]FIG. 2. is a front view of the present invention with the rampremoved.

[0020]FIG. 3. is a partial perspective view of the tire drop of thepresent invention with the ramp in place.

[0021]FIG. 4. is a side view of the present invention with the ramp inplace.

[0022]FIG. 5. is a perspective view of the present invention with theramp in place and a wheelbarrow on the ramp.

[0023]FIG. 6. is a perspective view of the present invention andwheelbarrow.

[0024]FIG. 7. is a perspective view of the present invention andwheelbarrow.

[0025]FIG. 8. is a perspective view of the present invention andwheelbarrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 shows the present inventionattached to a dumpster (100). The dump ramp (2) is comprised of a frame(34) made from upright frame members (16), a bottom frame member (28),and a dump plate (20). Extending generally horizontally from the frame(34) is a tire drop (12). The tire drop (12) is comprised of a tire dropback member (12A), tire drop side members (12B), and a tire drop frontmember (12C). The tire drop 12 circumscribes an aperture sized toreceive a portion of the front tire or wheel (108) of a wheelbarrow(104). The tire drop (12) may be supported by brace members (18). Theentire drop front member (12C) has a first ramp connection member (14)that is removably connectable to a second ramp connection member (30)attached to a ramp (32). The tire drop (12) is positioned on the frame(34) such that when the wheel (108) of the wheelbarrow (104) partiallydrops into the aperture of the tire drop (12), the front rim (106) ofthe wheelbarrow (104) is positioned over the dump plate (20) of the dumpramp (2). This allows the rim (106) of the wheelbarrow (104) to besupported by the dump plate 20 as the wheelbarrow (104) is tiltedforward and the contents (not shown) are deposited into the dumpster(100). In order that the wheelbarrow (104) does not slide along the dumpplate (20), or over-tilts and falls into the dumpster (100), stopmembers (22) are attached to the dump ramp (2) and extend above the dumpplate (20). The dump ramp (2) is removably attached to the dumpster(100) by means of a top hanger (24) that is attached to the dumpster lip(102) of the dumpster (100). Further, foot members (26) are attached tothe frame (34) near the bottom frame member (28) in order that the frame(34) remains substantially perpendicular to the ground.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a front view of the dump ramp (2). It attaches to thedumpster (100) by the top hanger (24) to the dumpster lip (102). FIG. 2clearly shows the orientation of the dump plate (200) in regard to thestop members (22). It further shows the support of the tire drop (12) bythe base members (18). While the tire drop (12) is shown at a specificpoint along the upright frame member (16) and the brace members (18) areshown attached to the tire drop (12) and the upright frame members (16)and at the bottom frame (28), this is not a requirement and the tiredrop (12) can be attached to the frame (34) at any point along theupright frame member (16) such that the distance from the tire drop (12)to the dump plate. (20) is substantially the same as or slightly lessthan the height of the wheelbarrow (104).

[0028]FIG. 3 illustrates the connection of the ramp (32) to the tiredrop (12). The first ramp connection member (14) is removably connectedto the second ramp connection member (30) which is connected to the ramp(32). This allows the wheel (108) of the wheelbarrow (104) to be rolledup the ramp (32) and the wheel (108) partially inserted into the tiredrop (12) where further rolling forward or backward is resisted. In thismanner, a user (not shown) will not have the wheelbarrow (104)accidentally roll back down the ramp (32).

[0029]FIG. 4 is a side view of the dump ramp (2). It further shows theorientation of the frame (34). The foot members (26) rest against theside of the dumpster (100) maintaining the substantially perpendicularorientation of the dump ramp (2) to the ground. This further maintainsthe substantially parallel orientation of the tire drop (12) to theground. FIG. 4 further shows the brace members (18) supporting the tiredrop (12). The ramp (32) is removably attached to the dump ramp (2) bythe second ramp connection member (30) to the first ramp connectionmember (14) at the tire drop front member (12C).

[0030]FIGS. 5 through 8 are additional views of the present inventionshowing its usage. In FIG. 5, a wheelbarrow (104) is shown rolling upthe ramp (32). FIG. 6 shows the wheelbarrow tire (108) having engagedwith the tire drop (12) of the present invention (2). FIGS. 7 and 8 showthe wheelbarrow (104) being tilted over the dump plate (20) of thepresent invention (2).

[0031] Although the invention has been described with reference tospecific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in alimited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, aswell as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparentto persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description ofthe invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claimswill cover such modifications that fall within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A dump ramp assembly for wheelbarrows for facilitatingunloading of the contents of the wheelbarrows into a dumpster, said dumpramp comprising: a frame, said frame removably attachable to saiddumpster; a tire drop attached to said frame, said tire drop having anaperture sized to partially engage a wheel from said wheelbarrow; afirst connection member attached to said tire drop and removablyattachable to a second connection member; said second connection memberattached to a ramp; a dump plate attached to said frame; a stop memberattached to said frame extending above said dumpster such that saidwheelbarrow does not enter said dumpster.